Note: I think it's a shame to waste even the seeds of a good tomato. Therefore, I save the scooped-out interiors produced by this recipe, and incorporate them into the bases of soups, or simply blend them with salt, pepper, garlic, paprika, olive oil and a dash of vinegar for an ultra-fast gazpacho.

About the author:Lauren Rothman is a former Serious Eats intern, a freelance catering chef, and an obsessive chronicler of all things culinary. Try the original recipes on her blog, For the Love of Food, and follow her on Twitter @Lochina186.

Procedures

1

Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 400°F. Brush an 11- by 13-inch glass baking dish with one tablespoon of olive oil.

2

Prepare the tomatoes: Using a small, sharp paring knife, cut around the inside wall of the tomato to loosen the seeds and jelly. Then, working over a large, deep bowl, use a tablespoon to gently scrape out the seeds and flesh, taking care to leave the tomato intact. Make sure each tomato half sits flat. If it doesn't, use the paring knife to shave a small slice off the bottom of the tomato, which will ensure that it sits level in the dish. Place tomato halves in baking dish.

3

Prepare the filling: Place bread pieces in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to create breadcrumbs. You should have two cups. Add 1/2 cup Gruyere, shallot, parsley, thyme, red pepper, lemon zest, and salt and black pepper to taste, and pulse to combine. With the machine running, drizzle 1/2 cup of olive in through the spout in the lid. Blend until mixture clumps together slightly.

4

Divide filling evenly between 12 tomato halves, pressing down slightly on the filling. Sprinkle remaining Gruyere over tomatoes. Drizzle tomatoes with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and bake until filling puffs and browns and tomatoes just start to split, about 40 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.

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About the Author

A recent graduate of the City University of New York's journalism program, Lauren was born, raised, and still resides in Brooklyn. She has been an avid cook and food lover since childhood. Since 2008, she has blogged at For the Love of Food, where she shares original recipes for simple, vegetable-heavy seasonal dishes. Here on Serious Eats, you can check out her Vegetarian, Urban Gardener, Market Tours and Market Scene posts.

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